Selecting a WordPress theme will become a UX (user experience) choice and largely irrelevant to the aesthetic (user interface or UI) choices. We developers will customize the visual aspects of our web properties with pre-built Gutenberg blocks, JavaScript code snippets, and custom CSS frameworks instead of what we think of today as themes. These visual artifacts are currently available as plugins – thereby making plugins as relevant to your site’s look-n-feel as any theme used to.
Using WordPress in Your Design System
A proposal to leverage the built-in capabilities of the WordPress system as the basis for you Design System. The presentation includes an introduction to design systems and the origins of component design. Originally presented to the Philly ‘Burbs WordPress Meetup on July 2, 2018.
Tools To Drive Design Decisions – Jan 2018
An exploration of Mood Boards, Site Maps and Mock-ups. Introduces the idea of using WordPress as an alternative for prototyping and testing your designs. This is a refinement (improvement?) of the original presentation given in September 2017.
The Six Thinking Hats
You’ve planned your meeting agenda and you’ve got the best thinkers from every stakeholder group to attend. Your ask is simple, “Give me new ideas on how to grow customer retention via our website.” But, you come away with only a couple of ideas and a lot of opinions about the ideas presented.
Your team has the skills and techniques they need to make the best decision. Fast. Smart. Efficient. Your presentation covers all of the details. You’ve made your key points clear and you’ve reiterated them at the end of your presentation. But, you still run into resistance. And often, it’s from the same people or teams.
By using The Six Thinking Hats and some lateral thinking techniques, you can ensure your meeting delivers on its purpose. And, that presentation is seen in the best light by each of those stakeholders.
Tools to Drive Design Decisions – Sep 2017
Mood boards and mock-ups have been tried and true work horse tools for the designer. But both require your client to have a visual orientation and the ability to “see” the finished product from approximations of key website pages. You can leverage the WordPress Customizer to engage your client in the design decision process without loosing control. Use the Customizer to allow your client to make changes and see the results in real-time.
Exploring the Designer’s Toolkit
A brief introduction to the concept of Design Thinking. We’ll use some real-world design challenges to discuss techniques to help us develop innovative user-center solutions. This will include audience participation in identifying favorite tools. But we’ll also take a deeper look at some specific tools: empathy maps. a business model canvas, mindmapping, sketch vs wireframe vs illustration during ideation and finally, rapid prototyping with paper.